Inside the Studio with Mary Harding
Welcome to Inside the Studio!
Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Congratulations to Kristen Stevens
You have won a a $25.00 gift certificate from www.humblebeads.com
Please send Humblebeads an email with your information.
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After spending much of the coldest February in history inside the house and not going to my studio,i.e temps hardly every climbing about 0 degrees and sinking much lower at night–about -20 degrees F- -30 degrees F, I was thrilled when my friend Mary Ann Evans contacted me for an Art Party in her ceramic studio!! What a great way to combat the winter blues!!
The party began with a gourmet lunch prepared by Mary Ann: a delicious cheddar and jalapeno dip, a salad with raw veggies, feta cheese and a yummy balsamic dressing, fish baked with fresh herb, a spicy soup and fresh fruit and homemade cookies for desert!! Wow!! Then this delightful group of 6 artists moved into Mary Ann’s wonderful, warm, bright ceramic studio.
She had set up tables covered with heavy canvas mats,
pugged some wonderful porcelain clay
made us a delicious bowl of slip,
put out supplies and pots for us to decorate
And set us free!!
The stereo was playing and Mary Ann was at the wheel ready to give us each a lesson in throwing a pot.
As the beat of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk flowed, some of us put down our clay work and danced!
Together and making art, we were all joyful, happy, and breaking out of the winter blues.
What we made has been captured in this collage
from top left: Sally Hartman; Mary Ann Evans; Melanie Kimbler; Ethel Slocum; Mary Harding; Karan Marie Cross
The afterglow of the party has been following all of us around and everyone is madly back at work in our home studios and miraculously, the weather has broken and Spring is just about here!!!
Here is what I have been making
some pendants
Birds
Hollow beads–this one begun at the Art Party
Hand built flower pendants
Maple Wing Stick Pendant
I hope to have some of my new work in my Etsy shop next week. This is Sales Tax time in New York State. Enough said!!
In addition to working in my studio, I have been helping out with the launching of the new Ceramic Art Bead Market. This is an exciting auction marketplace for ceramic art beads of original design. Anyone is welcome to join. Right now I am hosting a 2 day giveaway(ends on March 15 at Midnight) so I hope you will get yourself approved to join in and leave a comment on my post. Here is the pendant I am giving away.
Now for my question: What do you do to get rid of the winter blues? Leave a comment below( even if you didn’t have the winter blues) and you will be entered to win one of my flower pendants.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Congratulations to Kristen Stevens
You have won a a $25.00 gift certificate from www.humblebeads.com
Please send Humblebeads an email with your information.
*****************************************
After spending much of the coldest February in history inside the house and not going to my studio,i.e temps hardly every climbing about 0 degrees and sinking much lower at night–about -20 degrees F- -30 degrees F, I was thrilled when my friend Mary Ann Evans contacted me for an Art Party in her ceramic studio!! What a great way to combat the winter blues!!
The party began with a gourmet lunch prepared by Mary Ann: a delicious cheddar and jalapeno dip, a salad with raw veggies, feta cheese and a yummy balsamic dressing, fish baked with fresh herb, a spicy soup and fresh fruit and homemade cookies for desert!! Wow!! Then this delightful group of 6 artists moved into Mary Ann’s wonderful, warm, bright ceramic studio.
She had set up tables covered with heavy canvas mats,
pugged some wonderful porcelain clay
made us a delicious bowl of slip,
put out supplies and pots for us to decorate
And set us free!!
The stereo was playing and Mary Ann was at the wheel ready to give us each a lesson in throwing a pot.
As the beat of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk flowed, some of us put down our clay work and danced!
Together and making art, we were all joyful, happy, and breaking out of the winter blues.
What we made has been captured in this collage
from top left: Sally Hartman; Mary Ann Evans; Melanie Kimbler; Ethel Slocum; Mary Harding; Karan Marie Cross
The afterglow of the party has been following all of us around and everyone is madly back at work in our home studios and miraculously, the weather has broken and Spring is just about here!!!
Here is what I have been making
some pendants
Birds
Hollow beads–this one begun at the Art Party
Hand built flower pendants
Maple Wing Stick Pendant
I hope to have some of my new work in my Etsy shop next week. This is Sales Tax time in New York State. Enough said!!
In addition to working in my studio, I have been helping out with the launching of the new Ceramic Art Bead Market. This is an exciting auction marketplace for ceramic art beads of original design. Anyone is welcome to join. Right now I am hosting a 2 day giveaway(ends on March 15 at Midnight) so I hope you will get yourself approved to join in and leave a comment on my post. Here is the pendant I am giving away.
Now for my question: What do you do to get rid of the winter blues? Leave a comment below( even if you didn’t have the winter blues) and you will be entered to win one of my flower pendants.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Saraccino
March 13, 2015 at 4:19 pmHu… that is a difficult one. I develop really strong mood change during winter time Too dark, too cold, days are too short… If I would live on the country side, don't have to work, just could have some walks in the snow, come back reading a good bock… I would maybe enjoy the beautiful sides more. But not in a city, not working full time… some days you never see the sun even if it was there! So… what I try to do is to create every day after work even if it is just for a few minutes (another layer of paint, putting a collection of beads togeter for a project, make some raw new form with polymer clay…). It keeps me sane and in winter time more than ever 😉
Erin S
March 13, 2015 at 4:39 pmI used to get the winter blues for about 5 months out of the year. Cured it completely by moving to san diego. 🙂 Oh yeah. Love the flower pendant!
Dawn of LaTouchables
March 13, 2015 at 8:24 pmThis looks like so much fun–I would have loved to experience it. What I do when the winter blues strike? Try to get into a routine, get out of the house, eat a piece of chocolate. 🙂
Marie
March 14, 2015 at 12:38 amWhat a fun party. I live in North Florida so my winter blues are tiny compared to you northerners. But when I do get tired of chilly weather I bake bread.
veronica
March 14, 2015 at 12:55 amYour flower pendant is beautiful!
I get together with my mother and we hand stamp greeting cards.
Kristen Stevens
March 14, 2015 at 1:57 amLOOKING AT BEADS gets me out of the blues. Thank you Thank you for picking my name!!!
Sarajo Wentling
March 14, 2015 at 4:13 amLooks like you guys had a blast! I would love to have a creative play time with friends… what a great idea. This year I managed to escape winter's icy grip by going on the Bead Cruise and the timing of it couldn't have been better.
Susanm
March 14, 2015 at 4:28 pmIt's been very cold in Ottawa since Christmas and as much as possible, I try to get outside and run. Helps keep the blues at bay. Plus, I've been doing a monthly creative challenge which pushes me to be creative and try new things. Your flower pendant is lovely. Can't wait for spring!
Becky Pancake
March 14, 2015 at 5:25 pmMary your pendant is beautiful and makes me feel the spring. I participate in at least 2 online challenges a month to keep myself motivated.
Kathy Lindemer
March 14, 2015 at 7:00 pmSpending the winter months in the Florida Keys has gotten rid of my winter blues! It wasn't until I retired that I noticed how morose the winters days were. I was so busy working and raising kids, that while on this treadmill there wasn't time to see much of what winter looked like. By spending the winter in the Keys, I can do all kinds of water activities which I love and still do my beading. I am a lucky person!
Sue Mackay
March 15, 2015 at 8:34 pmMy cure for the winter blues…a creative weekend with Heather Powers of Humblebeads! Metal Sketches & Petals & Leaves! So Inspiring!!
Shaiha
March 16, 2015 at 1:32 amI don't really get winter blues and this year, we didn't even really have a winter. I have been having issues lately with having enough energy since my work location has changed (hopefully temporarily) and adding an extra ninety minutes onto my day. I am so glad that the challenges I sign up force me into my studio.
Debra Gibson
March 16, 2015 at 3:28 amMary it looks like you all had a blast! Love your new works of course!!! As for the blues I surf my favorite blogs I put on some happy music and I PLAY!!! I don't let winter beat me I let myself make pretty things with bright cheerful colors to lighten up a dreary day ! Thanks for the chance to win !!!
Hello Hello
March 17, 2015 at 6:01 pmThat flower is very beatifull
Claire Lockwood
March 17, 2015 at 7:41 pmMarvellous pieces! Looks like you had a ball. When I caught site of those two whopping kilns I thought they were yours!
haezz
March 19, 2015 at 8:47 pmFirst, thank you for choosing my name earlier this year. I thought I had then realized I hadn't. So, my apologies!
Winter blues defense? I choose another form of creative play. This year it's Zentangle. I love it. Minimal blues here. If the they do slip in, I gather hubby and wiener dogs and watch a movie.